The Aglycone Story — Two Molecules, One Root

Every licorice root produces glycyrrhizic acid as its primary defense compound. But for the human body, this bulky sugar-laden molecule is only the beginning. When our gut bacteria use beta-glucuronidase enzymes to clip away the sugar groups, they reveal the active core — 18 Beta-glycyrrhetinic acid. Freed from its sugar cage, this aglycone becomes 3 to 5 times more bioavailable, readily crossing cell membranes to reach tissues throughout the body.

Our production honors this biochemical logic: water-based extraction first, then controlled hydrolysis that mirrors the body own conversion — but with precision and at scale. The result carries none of the sweetness, but all of the therapeutic potential.

Where It Grows — The Licorice Lands

In the vast semi-arid regions spanning Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Xinjiang, licorice roots thread deep into mineral-rich alkaline soils. Wide temperature swings and austere conditions create a natural stress environment that drives the plant to produce extraordinary concentrations of protective triterpenoids. It takes three to four full years for a single root to accumulate enough glycyrrhizic acid to justify harvest. No shortcuts — just the quiet patience of sun, soil, and seasons.

Our contracted cultivation bases operate under EU Organic and USDA NOP protocols — no synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilizers. Every root lot is traceable to its specific growing plot, creating an unbroken chain of custody.

Gentle Chemistry — Water, Time, and Precision

Water-based extraction. Controlled acid hydrolysis. Membrane filtration. Recrystallization. No hexane. No acetone. No synthetic processing aids. No animal-derived materials throughout the entire chain. The result is a genuinely clean, genuinely organic botanical active that discerning formulators trust and conscious consumers feel good about.

Aglycone Advantage

Glycyrrhetinic acid is the active form — the molecule the body needs, without the sugar it must first remove. By delivering the aglycone directly, you get 3-5x higher bioavailability consistently — every person, every dose.

Dual Organic Certified

Every root grows under EU Organic cultivation protocols, and the finished powder carries USDA NOP certification. The certification chain is unbroken from the soil where the licorice grew to the powder in your formula.

Multi-Target Active

One molecule blocks inflammation at two pathways, stimulates ceramide production, neutralizes free radicals, stabilizes mast cells, and protects liver cells — anchoring five distinct consumer benefits from a single plant-derived ingredient.

Clean Chemistry

Water-based extraction, controlled hydrolysis, membrane filtration, recrystallization. No hexane, no acetone, no synthetic catalysts — only methods you can explain to your customers with confidence.

Calms Inflammation at Its Source

When skin flares red, when eczema patches refuse to stop itching — glycyrrhetinic acid works at two levels simultaneously. It blocks phospholipase A2 (the first trigger of the inflammatory cascade) and inhibits COX-2 (the enzyme that produces inflammatory prostaglandins). Most anti-inflammatory actives target one pathway. Glycyrrhetinic acid blocks both — which is why licorice has soothed irritated skin for millennia.

Helps Skin Rebuild Its Own Barrier

Healthy skin is about what your skin can produce for itself. Glycyrrhetinic acid signals skin cells to manufacture more ceramides — the essential lipid mortar between the bricks of your skin protective wall. More ceramides mean less water escaping, fewer irritants getting in, and skin that feels calm and resilient rather than reactive and fragile.

Antioxidant Shield — Daily Defense

Every day, sunlight, pollution, and normal metabolism generate free radicals that chip away at collagen and accelerate aging. Glycyrrhetinic acid acts as a direct free radical scavenger — especially against UVB-induced reactive oxygen species — while also preserving the skin own antioxidant enzyme systems. A layered defense from the inside out.

Soothes Reactive, Allergy-Prone Skin

For people with reactive skin, the difference between calm and flare-up often comes down to mast cell stability. Glycyrrhetinic acid helps stabilize mast cells, reducing IgE-mediated histamine release at the source — calming the underlying trigger rather than just masking symptoms.